Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has suggested that he will be counting on Paul Pogba when the Frenchman returns from injury.
Pogba is currently recovering from a thigh problem sustained on international duty with France, and has been undergoing rehab at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai.
He hasn't played for United since he was sent off in the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool in October, and with his contract running out in the summer there have been suggestions that he could walk away from the club sooner rather than later.
Rangnick has been in contact with the midfielder though, and says it is likely to be around a month before he is fit to return.
"We spoke over the phone on Tuesday," said Rangnick at his press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Norwich.
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"He was still in Dubai, he is expected to come back today and then we get to know each other in person on Sunday.
"We have had a telephone call.
"He told me he is getting better but, obviously, he is still not fully fit. From what I have heard so far, it will take another couple of weeks until he can train again. And then he has been out for quite some time, so then it will take another couple of weeks to get him match-fit.
"But in the first instance now, it is important he gets fully fit in order to be able to train with the rest of the group and then we have to develop him physically and technically to also be fit to play in the Premier League."
Rangnick - who is in place as United's interim boss until the end of the season - also discussed the possibility of bringing in new faces in January.
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“I’ve got to know them [the squad] better in this week, I saw most of them play in the two games and had three, four or five training sessions this week, but it’s still too early to speak about what might happen in the winter transfer window," he said.
"If I look at the number of players we have, it’s still a big squad, we definitely do not have not enough players.
"We need to make sure that players want to stay here if. If they see not getting enough game time here, it might make sense to speak individually with the players to see if a loan deal might make sense, but right now, it’s still too early to speak about that."
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